NCAA FBS Oversight Committee Proposals Rule Change for Schedule Starting in 2027
Week 0 could be the normal starting date for college football teams across the country as soon as the 2027 season if the latest proposal becomes an official rule.
The NCAA announced Thursday the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee officially recommended standardizing the start date to what is now known as Week 0. By doing so, it would make seasons 14 weeks long with two byes per team.
It also wouldn't impact the traditional end dates of the campaign, as rivalries and key conference showdowns would still take center stage on the Saturday after Thanksgiving as the final day of the regular season.
That would also mean keeping the standalone dates for conference title games and the Army-Navy rivalry game.
This is just a step, though, as the Division I Cabinet still has to officially accept the recommendation to make it a rule in the sport. The Cabinet will discuss doing so in June.
Yet the expectation seems to be that the rule will be accepted.
In March, Seth Emerson and Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic reported moving the start date to what is now Week 0 was "seen as low-hanging fruit because it has widespread support" and would be a quick solution while much of the sport focuses on the future of the College Football Playoff instead.
Since the future format of the CFP is the overshadowing issue hovering over the sport, such a change like this one that would not be dependent on a particular format would be a straightforward alteration.
At this point, the CFP will remain at 12 teams for the upcoming 2026 season. Yet the Big Ten and SEC are continuing to debate potential expansion in future years, and the field could eventually be 16 or even 24 teams depending on how those discussions unfold.
The upcoming season will also feature a handful of Week 0 games, including international contests. The game between North Carolina and TCU will take place in Ireland, while the game between NC State and Virginia will take place in Brazil.
Week 0 will be on Aug. 29 this year.
